distemper. He did this for the honor of God. But as to these
matters, let every one consider them after what manner he
pleases.

5. As to the women, when they have born a child, Moses forbade
them to come into the temple, or touch the sacrifices, before
forty days were over, supposing it to be a boy; but if she hath
born a girl, the law is that she cannot be admitted before twice
that number of days be over. And when after the before-mentioned
time appointed for them, they perform their sacrifices, the
priests distribute them before God.

6. But if any one suspect that his wife has been guilty of
adultery, he was to bring a tenth deal of barley flour; they then
cast one handful to God and gave the rest of it to the priests
for food. One of the priests set the woman at the gates that are
turned towards the temple, and took the veil from her head, and
wrote the name of God on parchment, and enjoined her to swear
that she had not at all injured her husband; and to wish that, if
she had violated her chastity, her right thigh might be put out
of joint; that her belly might swell; and that she might die
thus: but that if her husband, by the violence of his affection,
and of the jealousy which arose from it, had been rashly moved to
this suspicion, that she might bear a male child in the tenth
month. Now when these oaths were over, the priest wiped the name
of God out of the parchment, and wrung the water into a vial. He
also took some dust out of the temple, if any happened to be
there, and put a little of it into the vial, and gave it her to
drink; whereupon the woman, if she were unjustly accused,
conceived with child, and brought it to perfection in her womb: